Tracks 17-18

The reason we remember and love the great songs of the Twenties, Thirties and Forties is not just because of the wonderful melodies of that era, but also the beautifully-fashioned lyrics. But then again, once-in-awhile a song comes along which is hugely popular despite the fact the lyrics don’t seem to make much sense. Case in point—”Mairsy Doats”, a huge hit in 1943 for the stellar team of Jay Livingston (“Buttons and Bows”), Milton Drake (“Java Jive”) and Al Hoffman (“Heartaches”, “Hawaiian Wedding Song”). All I know is, whenever I'm performing for a World War II-era audience and I want them to sing along, all I have to do is play “Mairsy Doats”!

LYRICS

Mairsy doats and dozy doats

and liddle lamzy divey

A kiddel-y divey too, wouldn't you?

Yes, Mairsy doats and dozy doats

and liddle lamzy divey

A kiddel-y divey too, wouldn't you?

If the words sound queer

and funny to your ear,

a little bit jumbled and jivey,

sing 'Mares eat oats and does eat oats

and little lambs eat ivy"

Oh, Mairsy doats and dozy doats

and liddle lamzy divey

A kiddel-y divey too, wouldn't you?

The world is undoubtedly much poorer for the fact the George Gershwin died at age 39. He was just hitting his stride as a serious composer in addition to his career as a popular songwriter. But among the many memorable works he left behind, perhaps one of the finest is “Someone to Watch Over Me”. When a forlorn Gertrude Lawrence sang this tender ballad to a rag doll in the 1926 Broadway musical, “Oh Kay!”, one critic remarked that George and lyricist Ira Gershwin had “wrung the withers of even the most hard-hearted of those present.”

LYRICS

There's a somebody I'm longing to see,

I hope that he, turns out to be,

Someone who'll watch over me.

I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood,

I know I could always be good

To one who'll watch over me.

Although he may not be the man

some girls think of as handsome,

To my heart be carries the key.

Won't you tell him please

to put on some speed,